May 08, 2013

Inmates recount conversations about killing

By David Clarkson. Nikki Roper murder trial, Day 3. Updated report. A prison inmate has recounted a conversation with murder accused Nikki Roper in which he said he had killed his girlfriend.

The prisoner was given name suppression when he gave his evidence before Justice Forrest Miller and a Christchurch High Court jury on the third day of Roper?s trial on a charge of murdering his ex-girlfriend Alexsis Maria Tovizi in Christchurch in December 2010.

Roper denies that charge, as well as unlawfully taking her car, stealing her laptop computer, and five charges of dishonestly using her bankcard.

The man said he had known Roper for about five years. He said he had the conversation with Roper before Christmas 2010.

They spoke about a tattoo on Roper?s cheek which Roper said was the name of his girlfriend. The tattoo looked fresh because the lettering was dark.

Roper made a comment about ?putting his girlfriend to sleep?, and the man asked him what he meant.

?He said, ?I killed her. She?s a slut,? ? said the man.

Roper appeared to be laid back as though he did not have a care in the world. He had behaved as though it was some sort of joke, the man said.

Another inmate, who also has name suppression, told of being in a cell at Christchurch Men?s Prison with another man in February 2012. While they were in their cell, another person came to the door and asked the cellmate what had happened at court the previous day.

When the cellmate said he had pleaded guilty, the man at the door said he was dumb to plead guilty. The man at the door then said: ?I pleaded not guilty and I killed my missus.?

The defence accepts that the man at the door was Roper.

A neighbour of Miss Tovizi in Stanmore Road told of hearing an argument between her and Roper outside their unit one or two days before her death. He saw Roper reach through the open window of Miss Tovizi?s car and take the car keys.

In earlier evidence, a friend of Roper?s told of him staying at her property after his release from prison on December 1, 2010. She told of an argument between him and Miss Tovizi, which included mention of her engagement to another witness in the trial, Daniel Ross Edwards.

In a later message from Roper, he told the the witness that Miss Tovizi had picked Mr Edwards over him and they were ?over for good?. The witness has name suppression.

Another witness who knew Roper and Miss Tovizi, described how she would get very drunk. He said he had seen her drink until she became ?stumbling drunk? and once she had ?fainted a bit?.

Toxicology testing on the body of Alexsis Maria Tovizi showed no evidence of significant alcohol intake or drug overdose, the trial was told.

Forensic scientist Helen Poulsen told of the testing of the blood samples, which showed a level of less than 5mg of alcohol to 100ml of blood. She said that decomposition could affect alcohol levels.

Crown prosecutor Pip Currie asked what she would expect to find, if someone had had a significant alcohol intake before death. She replied: ?If someone has a very high level of alcohol I would expect to see a significant amount remaining, even with decomposition.?

The blood was tested for other drugs including opiates, methamphetamine, cocaine, and ecstasy, but none was found. A level of an anti-depressant drug was found that was ?consistent with therapeutic use?.

She would have expected to see a higher level, if someone had overdosed.

Another scientist gave evidence of strong scientific evidence indicating that DNA from Roper was in a sample taken from Miss Tovizi?s fingernail.

The trial is expected to last two weeks.